Qarabag Defeats Benfica 3-2 in Thrilling Champions League Clash

Qarabag staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Benfica 3-2 in a thrilling UEFA Champions League group stage match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on September 26, 2023. The Azerbaijani side’s victory was sealed by a late goal from Oleksiy Kashchuk, who netted the winner just four minutes before full-time.

Benfica began the match with confidence, quickly taking a two-goal lead. Enzo Barrenechea opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a precise header from a corner. The hosts doubled their advantage in the 16th minute when Vangelis Pavlidis found the net with a well-placed shot on the turn. At this point, it appeared that Benfica would secure a comfortable victory.

However, Qarabag responded with resilience. Leandro Andrade reduced the deficit for the visitors by smashing a powerful first-time shot past Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. This goal ignited hopes for the Azerbaijani team, and they nearly equalized when Kady Borges struck the post shortly after.

The momentum shifted further in the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, Camilo Duran leveled the score for Qarabag. He capitalized on a defense-splitting pass from Marko Jankovic and expertly directed a first-time shot into the far corner.

With the score tied at 2-2, both teams pushed for a decisive goal. Qarabag’s breakthrough came in the 86th minute when a long clearance from their goalkeeper found Kashchuk just outside the area. After a quick exchange with Abdellah Zoubir, Kashchuk calmly slotted a shot past Trubin, sending the Qarabag supporters into celebration.

This stunning victory marks a significant achievement for Qarabag in their Champions League campaign. Benfica, who reached the round of 16 in the previous season, will look to bounce back when they face Chelsea on September 30, 2023. Meanwhile, Qarabag is set to host FC Copenhagen the following day, aiming to build on this momentum.

The match showcased the unpredictability of football, illustrating that no lead is ever safe in the Champions League. As the group stage progresses, both teams will need to adapt quickly to maintain their ambitions in this prestigious tournament.